JohnnieO
Active Member
Actually I have
I called him yesterday about 2.30 pm. I got his voicemail and left a message. I haven’t heard back yet but I’m sure he’s a busy guy.
2 Ch amp question
- Thread starter JohnnieO
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I called him yesterday about 2.30 pm. I got his voicemail and left a message. I haven’t heard back yet but I’m sure he’s a busy guy.
JohnnieO
Active Member
My plan was to buy 1 Stratos amp with the plus upgrade and in stereo and buy another in about a year in mono and have the first one converted back to mono at the same time. Then I can do the mono block thing. No I don’t “Need that” But I sure want that…lol
If I don’t hear back this weekend I will try again Monday.
JohnnieO
Active Member
Well said sir
Call him late at night, like 9 or 10 o'clock. Seriously, the man is a night owl!
His only advertising is word of mouth. And he hates email. It's all about personal interaction, and talking directly to the customer, to get an idea of what you really need. Many times, someone will call thinking they want a particular amp, a tricked out Stratos, perhaps, but Klaus will recommend something else, even something a little 'less', as a better fit.
His only advertising is word of mouth. And he hates email. It's all about personal interaction, and talking directly to the customer, to get an idea of what you really need. Many times, someone will call thinking they want a particular amp, a tricked out Stratos, perhaps, but Klaus will recommend something else, even something a little 'less', as a better fit.
I find that to be an excellent plan! I'm perfectly happy with my particular Khartago. It's got an extra 20wpc, the red SE circuit board, with mid-level cap upgrade, extra Symphonic Line storage caps, Extreme power supply upgrades, Groneberg cables, XLRs, and the WBT Platinums. I got a serious discount for taking a B-stock case, and for being patient during the supply chain crisis a couple of years ago.
A CURE for upgradeitis? HaHa Ha Hahahahahhahahah........!!!!!!!!!
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You might also look at the Candela tube preamp. This one is seriously good. Klaus will tell you that his amps love tube preamps. I was looking at the Schiit Freya+, which is a very versatile preamp. But, I decided to go with the Candela, as it's made to be a perfect match to my amp, and I've never wondered if I might have made the wrong choice. Even with the stock JJ tubes, it sounds better than my Jolida JD5T tube hybrid preamp, with Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7s.
Just sayin'..........
Just sayin'..........
And, no, I'm not affiliated in any way with Odyssey, other than being a satisfied customer. This is just some really good gear, regardless of the price, and I have no second thoughts about recommending it to anyone who isn't looking to cheap out on their electronics.
knotscott
Super Member
There are lots of variables, so it's tough to predict how much difference it'd make....that's always an unknown, but it'll likely make some difference, and in time we can all learn to notice small differences. I say go for it...rotating gear is part of the fun of audio.
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Variables? In this case, I think he's looking to minimize variables. A dedicated power amp doesn't share power supplies with a preamp and/or a phono stage, there are no controls to get dirty or scratchy or dump completely, it just amplifies an incoming signal appropriately, and sends it to the speakers. That's all it does, and that's all he wants. And all amps do the exact same thing, they just do it differently.
A brand new amp, with bipolar transistors, is going to sound different from a 40+yr old MOSFET design. And, since it only has to be good at one thing, it should easily be better at that one thing, when compared to a vintage integrated, that had to be a good preamp, too, and at a reasonable price, for the time.
Gotta luv AK!!! In two weeks, the OP has gone from wondering if a separate power amp might somehow be an improvement to his vintage system, to actively pursuing a completely new high end system! I think my job here is done!
Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere, I want to see how this plays out......!
A brand new amp, with bipolar transistors, is going to sound different from a 40+yr old MOSFET design. And, since it only has to be good at one thing, it should easily be better at that one thing, when compared to a vintage integrated, that had to be a good preamp, too, and at a reasonable price, for the time.
Gotta luv AK!!! In two weeks, the OP has gone from wondering if a separate power amp might somehow be an improvement to his vintage system, to actively pursuing a completely new high end system! I think my job here is done!
Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere, I want to see how this plays out......!
I love your sense of humor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Me and about a 1000 other people here.
JohnnieO
Active Member
If it helps. My mind has been made up. 1 Odyssey amp in stereo now “as soon as I can make it happen anyway “ And then in a year when I can afford it. Another amp in mono at which chime I will have the original stereo amp converted back by Odyssey to mono as well. Then have 2 very nice mono block amps as the foundation of my system. Even though I do like the sound of my Pioneer SA 8800 I know something in modern equipment will be better. At that time…money allowed I will retire the Pioneer to man cave duties and upgrade to a preamp of some sort. Why Odyssey? Not just because some guy named Jed on AK suggested it..Because Jed suggested it and I did my research and it checks all the boxes. Number one build quality for funds spent. Number two ..Local to me. 12 minutes from home to go pick it up. Or have it serviced. Thirdly…a 20 Year warranty.. who does that?
I really don’t need it now but in a year I will be moving into a much larger home and will be able to spread out and utilize such a system. I really don’t even listen at high volume but that’s not the point. I want the best possible sound I can afford and that’s my plan. But…
Don’t stop now. I’m learning a lot from this thread. Heck I didn’t even know I had a hi class amplifier builder just across town until someone here helped me (Thank you Jed)
knotscott
Super Member
All amps don't handle that simple task the same as effectively as they should ...some struggle when things get tough, and behave differently depending on the reactive impedance a speaker poses to it. That's one of the reasons amps sound different. How it's sound signature and performance habits play with the rest of the system and room will also come into be a factor. Yep, variables. What he ends up doing is up to him.
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Morgan D
Super Member
Interesting claim, from the many post from some very knowledgeable tube techs, amazing isn't quite the word they would use for that amp. Glad your having better luck than they have with them. I have never owned on so I can't really claim to have person experience with them. But it makes it difficult for people to make informed purchases when many people on one hand claim nothing but problems with a product, while a few others claim it as "amazing".
KB does it because he's confident he can talk 80% of the people sending a piece in for warranty work into upgrading.
That's one reason, I'm sure. That's also the kind of thing that can happen when you move from the vintage game into the high end. At least he can talk directly with the builder.